Showing posts with label luton music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label luton music. Show all posts

Friday, 15 May 2009

Luton Music Podcast week 3 is Live!


With Lovely Video! Enjoy!





This is the last Luton Music Pod on a while... But we'll be back i promise!


Blog updates on Liam Butler & Folk!


The link is the link here! Tell me what you think!

Wednesday, 13 May 2009

Thursday, 7 May 2009

Luton Music profile-Phil Gordon


Luton Music Profile talks Pies, Naked Lunches and Metal!




Phil Gordon is a man with fingers, fingers in many musical pies. Some would compare him to Frey Bentos or any other leading pie maker like Pukka. But I don’t, I see him as one of the many people in Luton who have wide and varied musical differences which has crafted the person. So in this Luton music profile im looking at Phil Gordon seeing what makes him tick musically.



Phil very much like everyone who grew up in the late eighties in Luton had a love for those iconic pink flamingo’s high above the Arndale, But musically Phil grew up with the genre especially the Nu-metal flavours at the time. “I’ve always been into Metal, its part of my musical heritage.” Proudly claims Phil, whose tentative years was built up on attending the shows of D.T.A and fondly referring to seeing Enter Shakiri as the “Glory Days.” Musically Phil dipped in and out of styles and trends just like any teen listening to the likes of Grime, Indie, the horrific crossover Grindie & his secret passion old school Garage.


Fond of a Thursday night at local night spot Envy Phil is unashamedly a fan of modern & Old school Garage, “It all just reminds me of Luton for some stupid reason, its jokes you don’t have to take it seriously I certainly don’t but loads of people do in Luton which is even funnier.” Phil flew the nest away from Luton and onto the wonders of Birmingham which has definitely shaped his current musical passions.


Whilst away Phil spied friends such as Craig Watkins & David Boa expressing themselves though mixes and like a curious puppy he followed suit. He slowly stated Dj’ing Indie and heavier music, (Yours truly gave him his first hour slot) but soon Phil found his niche in mixing and mashing up, Dubstep Electro & stupid remixes of pop stars. Whilst hitting Birmingham alternative hotspots such as Panic & Subway City. Phil was soon making waves and starting hooking up with people who could make things happen in Brum. “I just got invited to play at Naked Lunch, and it was awesome, full of cool people and I’ve just been invited back.” Mixing in these styles of Old school baseline, Party Track and whatever in between has served to be Phil’s strength by mixing up what he does, “It’s a cliché but I genuinely like loads of different styles and I want to keep it like that.”


Keeping up his reputation as the Nightwolf, a name which is part anchored in Ron Burgundy a man Phil notes as a constant source of inspiration & some of his antics in the first year in Birmingham. “I came back from an evening of fun with a lady and I just got labelled it, it kinda stuck although I hate when people ask about it.” Looking to the future and it’s looking bright at a recent Dj gig I seen Phil chatting toRaffertie , a uber cool dubstep dj/ remixer who has the ear of Mary Ann-Hobbs. He’s also ‘down’ the amorously named Gutter Skank Crew whose rawkus party ethos is slowing making waves in Brum. So for Phil he’s taking it as it comes partying hard and laying down beats, and who could blame him. His ethos towards the music, his outlook to life and importantly his healthy respect for his roots is pretty unique, congratulations Mr Bentos, I mean Phil.


Phil gave me some tunes he was into recently!



1-Rolo Tomassi- I Love Turbulence


After so much talk about metal I thought it would be appropriate to include an example. The fact that this band are so young should be suprising enough, but the lead singer is also a hot girl haha. Rolo Tomassi and Throats are the best new UK metal bands in my opinion

2- Caspa feat. Dynamite MC : Rat-a-tat


I love going to raves where they have MC's hyping the crowd all night and think this captures that vibe perfectly.

3- Township Funk (Jayou VIP Remix)



This is definately one of the best songs of last year. There are so many remixes of this, but Jayou's version is my favourite. Wait for the drop when it properly kicks in, I cant wait to drop this next week at Rainbow and the Warehouse. Jayou's remix of Chase and Status' 'Eastern Jam' is definately worth checking out too.

Luton Music profile- Paul Kelly


The Luton Music Profile chats to Luton's own Paul Kelly On Springsteen, the Twang and socialising with the lads!



This Luton music profile is a bit of a exclusive I must say, I’ve managed to get a man in a band who hasn’t even preformed live yet. So expect some big live performances in the following months in Luton. This is a profile on Paul Kelly whom is the lead singer in the band Agile Beast , formed in Nottingham but firmly rooted in Luton culture they play laddish indie focusing on the important things in life, socialising.


Paul’s experience of live music was a carbon copy of mine (See Last week’s blog ) studiously working away at Cardinal Newman High school in the day & hitting up The Well come the weekend for a nice dose of live music, and the occasional underage pint. “It was such a great atmosphere, I mean getting served was a great bonus and made a great change of scene from the Four Hourshoes.”(Luton's mecca for underage drinking at the time) Other early memories where centred around following around his cousins band Too Far Gone & listening to the music of Bob Dylan, Leanard Cohen & importantly the Boss Bruce Springsteen. “Sometimes when I came in early from a night & Brucie and the E-street band would be playing mega loud and my dad just listening away, he’s a huge influence.”


Paul continued to play in various bands before forming the rather fantastically named Agile Beast with pals Martin Gibbons and Luton’s famous streaker Little Dan . All of whom had a shared a passion for the music of Oasis, and the Arctic Monkeys. But also the City of Nottingham where Paul is currently studying along with a couple of other Luton mates, having personally been up myself to see other friends you get a strange home away from home feeling. I’ve often bumped into the lads often on mass socialising away in a whole host of venues and they are always fun. Something that is very much on the top of the bands list of subject matter.


Social commentary is the name of the game with the beast and the three songs available on their Myspace shows they have musical talent. Imagine a Arctic Monkeys fronted by Mike Skinner and your nearly there, “I just love that witty story telling style it’s witty and a style I think you can relate too it more and it’s artistic…” Pauses Paul as a rhye smile slowly developes across his face. “Ill be honest I cant sing, im rubbish.” He later confesses. But Luton is all the band know in many ways with the songs all having some reference to this fine town.



In the lyrics you’ll find the same wit and scally charm which defines the sound of the band and Paul is pretty clear on the subject matter “I don’t want to write songs about things that didn’t happen to me, that’s shit. Most of our songs are written about recent events from Luton, there is always some gossip going down.” Pushed about performing live and Paul is certain that aint going to happen soon, “To be fair I want to get a few more songs written, I wanna impress the people im playing too.” Secretly it seems that the band are itching to get going as just before our conversations ends Paul Pipes up “oh about the live music thing, I cant wait to be honest just playing to our friends and having a big session afterwards.” Currently it’s all on hold as Paul’s out helping Saudi Arabia with something bussiness related but come the end of summer the Beast should be about Luton. Currently they only have 30 friends on Myspace so get on the bandwagon with a pint in your hand.


Paul Also threw me some youtube gems my way... so enjoy!

1. The Twang-Two Lovers- One of the lads favourite bands, and it's hard not to see why in this video. Got Danny Dyer in it!




Two Lovers



2 Arctic Monkeys-Fluorescent Adolescent- Massive influence on my writing, loved the first demo's of these guys their new album aint to shabby either.





3. Bruce Springsteen-Dancing in the Dark: A classic, firm memories of home with this tune!

Friday, 1 May 2009

Luton Music Profile-Rich T

The Luton Music Blog talks to Rich T about the end of Dark party & his love for little indie record shops, and his fondness for big blue fingers.......




So this Saturday (2nd of May) see’s the closure of Dark Party. It’s been Running for over 9 months every Saturday, it has played host to dj’s sets from the likes of Haunts and famous one piece and chips give-aways and also Easter & Christmas parties. But it’s come to an end; ever so suddenly a change of ownership has changed the rules and pulled the Carpet under the feet of Luton’s Indie community. I’ve managed to catch up with Dark Party resident Rich T who’s clearly disappointed with the closure.


“Dark party meant a lot to me as it was the first night I really got involved with.” Confesses Rich who regularly brought the ‘party’ upstairs playing some of the freshest electro and indie beats at D.P. Anything from Nottingham based Late of the Pier to Little Boots, a artist who Rich has some time for it seems. “Oh she is Proper naughty.” Snipes Rich in a grimey Cockney accent something that you would be surprised if Jay from the Inbetweeners murmured.


Growing up in the Stopsley Rich lived a charmed life riding about on his bike (Rumours persist that he had stabilisers till aged 12, which Rich firmly denies) and casually strolling around Putterage Bury Woods make up most of his childhood. Rich drew musical inspiration from snooping around his dad’s tapes and records. “As a kid I vividly remember lots of the animals and beach boys being played.” But rich still purveys a love for the record, and it’s shown quite magnificently in his huge collection of Promo and single Cd’s which he has brought just outside of Luton.


“I get them from Dave’s record shop in Letchworth.” As rich eagerly points out a price sticker with said record label embossed on it, “It’s really good full of new stuff and promo stuff dead cheap local stuff to, sometimes they do in stores.” Rich is dedicated to his craft and it shows as seems to own every promo of every achingly cool indie group of the last two years, “This is the late of the Pier first release.” As again a shiny cd is flashed in my face. Not only this but Rich also owns a mean pair of decks, something I have had the privilege of playing on the occasional lazy Saturday afternoon.


But Rich’s main problem is the lack of tiny ‘cool’ record shops in “Luton hasn't got enough record shops after HMV the town only really has specialist music stores focusing on world music there Isn’t really a shop that provides a place to pick up new singles or smaller bands release.” Somewhere he would thrive in, you imagine him in there pottering about telling you about the latest releases on some obscure label ran by Dutch indie aficionados’ or something. For now Rich will have to make do dropping beats when he can, and now firmly part of the Dark Party Posse (Rich blogs all the time on the D.P blog.) you can guarantee if there is a decent night in Luton Rich is about.

But it’s not just Dark Party for Rich he is also the man who is the pre-party at the George on a Tuesday just before Edge. “It’s a great laugh, few hours playing whatever I want few pals milling about, especially in the George you got to love the surroundings.” A wide musical mish mash is dropped, from old school hip hop tunes to some classic R n B Rich plays whatever he feels like on the night and rightly so.



Casting his eye over the scene and rich can appreciate Luton “I remember channel U and this young lad appeared and was in a video shot entirely around Luton, I couldn’t believe it, it clearly shows Luton has some talent.” Suggests Rich, but with the death of Dark Party only a day away and Rich is still optimistic. “Something will happen on a Saturday soon; people will get sick of the standard Liquid movements and want some indie back in their lives.” When that day comes Rich and his massive box of tunes will be on hand whipping up frenzy on the nearest Indie dance floor.


Here is a few Gem’s Rich Reccomended



Chew Lips. Lovely Electro Fun! Enjoy!









2 Plugs Melodic stuff with a electro tinge im a big fan






LadyHawke you could choose anything off her album I cant stop listening to it! Paris is Burning stands out through.



Cheak out the last blog post for the first Luton Music Podcast!

Thursday, 30 April 2009

Luton Music profile- Daniel Collins


Dan Collins chats to the Luton Music blog, about 60's beats, pirate radio and how the george the second is a similar to that Pop artists dream....




In this Luton Music Profile we will take a closer look into the life of Pirate Radio’s guitarist Daniel Collins. A man who seems very much on the outside one of your ten-a-penny throw away indie types who are init for the women and adulation rather than the music. Daniel like most young Lutonian’s had fond memories of those awesome pink flamingo’s that flew (admittedly on cable strings) high above the main entrance hallway to Luton’s shopping the centre The Arndale, but also running around the now defunct Woolworths chain stuffing his face with pick and mix, “oh it was the best cant beat that.” Chirps Dan in his Luton-ever-so-slightly-cockney accent.


It was inevitable that Dan was going to get involved in music at some point; his father had been part of London Britpop outfit Choke. “We always had producers and musicians coming over for parties, and a guitar was always in the front room it was going to happen.” Now Dan fronts Pirate Radio who came together at collage to create some musical carnage, “We just came together for a bit of a laugh really and it’s turned out pretty good so far.”


So Pirate Radio has been on the scene for some time now, along the way they have supported the likes of Art Brut & the Holloways around most of the venues in our fair town. But Dan definitely has a favourite venue in which he and his band create this Libertines inspired noise. “It’s the George the Second for me because it's such an arty pub the chequered floor and the new designs on the walls, like the pub has just said yes to drugs and joined an Andy Warhol dream instead of becoming another wine bar.” Pirate Radio’s shows are pretty legendary and often get out of hand as you’ll often find stage diving and stage invasions the essential elements as well as a little bit of equipment smashing something well worth seeing live.


Currently the band are touring with a few dates in May & June with there brand of Libertines-a-like noise. “I remember seeing them when I was 14 at Reading festival, the sheer squeal of the guitars and rock and roll swagger just appealed to me.” It’s pretty clear of the influence in the song ‘The Two Life’s of Johnny’ as Dan cries an “Alright” ala Mr Doherty. But don’t judge a book by his cover; quietly Dan isn’t just a Libertine wannabe. “I’m really into 60’s stuff at the minute, stuff like the Zombies and the Small faces it’s quality I think it has definitely inspired me musically they knew how to make good stuff.”



Pushed on his dream band and Daniels choices are hardly surprising. on bass John Entwistle, Drums Keith Moon (Both The Who), Rod Argent (The Zombies) on Organ, John Lennon (The Beatles) on guitar/vox and finally Steve Marriott (The Small Faces) on Guitar/Vox. So after spending a little time with Dan it’s clear that you should never judge a book by its cover. Particularly when the book is full of chapters dedicated to the art of the stage invasion, epic meetings with flying giant pink flamingos and plenty of tales from the grim underbelly of Luton’s Pubs & Clubs. Sounds like a cracking read!


Dan has recommended some YouTube gold get looking!


1. Be my Baby - The Ronettes Classic song! makes me fall in love every time!





2. Neils Children - I'm Ill Tight Band and fantastic guitars




3.Care of cell 44 - The Zombies qualities 60's tune most played on my ipod!




The Luton Music Pod is soon to be released! Tomorrow is the big day!


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